The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has rejected the results of the local government elections held on Saturday.
The elections, which were conducted across the state’s 18 local government areas, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) securing all chairmanship and councillorship positions, as announced by the Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Dr. Joseph Aremo, on Sunday.
In a statement issued on Monday, SDP Chairman Mr. Gbenga Akinbuli expressed strong disapproval of the election results, describing the process as riddled with irregularities. He alleged widespread ballot stuffing, the absence of essential electoral materials, and the intimidation of opposition party members.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress manipulated the exercise, which the good people of the state know was a massive selection, not an election,” Akinbuli stated. He further called for the immediate cancellation of the results, asserting that the credibility of the election had been severely compromised.
Akinbuli specifically highlighted alleged misconduct in Odigbo and Ile Oluji towns, where ODIEC officials reportedly bypassed proper procedures, with election results allegedly being recorded on plain sheets instead of official forms. He also criticized the involvement of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of enabling electoral malpractice.
“We have video evidence showing a police officer allegedly supervising the harassment of our chairmanship candidate in Odigbo, Mr. Jimmy Akiyan,” Akinbuli added, urging the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter. He also pointed out a lack of adequate security personnel, which he said created an environment for voter intimidation.
Meanwhile, the APC has dismissed these allegations. Ondo State APC Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, described the election as “one of the most peaceful” in the state’s history.
“The election was peaceful, free, and fair. Anybody saying otherwise is just making noise to be heard,” Adetimehin said. He commended ODIEC and other stakeholders for conducting a well-organized election, challenging critics to provide concrete evidence of manipulation.
